Journal of the San Juan Islands

Offense unleashed: Wolverines prevail in seesaw battle | Softball

Emily Guard slides in safe at home to score the first of the Wolverines 14 runs in a victory over Concrete at home, Tuesday, April 15. / Scott Rasmussen

The Friday Harbor softball team shook off the rust and fired up the offense to notch its second win of the season, a 14-11 victory at home over Concrete, Tuesday, April 15.

The Wolverines batted around order in their half of the first inning to grab a 6-3 lead in the early stages of the Northwest 1A/2B League match up. Samantha Finch drove in two of the team's six runs.

But the lead proved short-lived, as the Lions, in a preview of the seesaw battle to come, tallied four runs in the fourth to reclaim the advantage, at 7-6. The Wolverines answered in their half of the inning by scoring a pair of runs to bounce back out in front 8-7.

Friday Harbor took the field Tuesday following a three-week layoff, prompted by a combination of rainouts, spring break and the landslide near the town of Oso, which forced the postponement of an April 7 game scheduled at Darrington.

But the prolonged break may have helped the Wolverines to overcome their offensive woes—they had been outscored by a combined 42-9 in three successive defeats—as they clinched the win over Concrete with their highest-scoring output of the season.

Friday Harbor added to its advantage by scoring three runs in the fourth and outdistanced the Lions over the final two innings to claim a 14-11 victory and first league win.

With the win, the Wolverines improved to 1-0 in league play and 2-3 overall. They face regional 1A rival Meridian on the road, Thursday, April 7, at 3 p.m., and are home, Tuesday, April 22, to host La Conner, at 4:30 p.m., followed by a trip to Orcas, April 23, to square off against the Vikings.